Being too formal isn’t the problem. Not noticing is.

Being too formal isn’t the problem. Not realising it anymore is.

At school, you may have learned sentences like: “I would be most grateful if you could kindly confirm.” It was correct. It still sounds correct. So it’s often the first thing that comes to mind.

That comes from how English was taught in Germany. School English followed the formal style that business culture used for a long time. International business English has since become more direct.

That doesn’t mean your English was wrong. It means you’re adjusting to the way people communicate today.

Take the Formality Quiz: eight short situations, no sign-up, about three minutes. It shows you where the old school habits still appear.

Quick tip: Choose your first instinct. The answer that feels slightly less polite is often the one people use now.

PS The problem isn’t that you’re polite. The problem is you’re still writing to a boss who retired in 2003.